Purgatory Road
Country mile
Reviewed by Margaret Moser, Fri., Aug. 14, 2009
John Arthur Martinez
Purgatory Road (Apache Ranch)Like his college roommate Todd Snider, John Arthur Martinez tends toward the folky side of country-flavored story-songs. Purgatory Road finds an even keel with the rough highway tales of self-incrimination and loss ("Can't Outdrink the Truth," "Utopia") that are thoughtful without wallowing in hopelessness and despair ("Cobalt Blue," "Thunder & Lightning"). "Que No Puede Ver" puts him square in the Americano camp, too.
